Coming April 2018

If you've been following my blog for a few years, you (hopefully) remember how much I love my BO's mare Tia. She's the ultimate hunter, loves her job, does it well, isn't marish, doesn't give a crap about anything except having her mane pulled, and anyone can ride her.  She does have some arthritis issues with her front end, but I believe a lot of that was due to being over jumped/showed as a baby. My BO got her for $1, and it was hands down the best dollar ever spent.

Tia with a former leaser

We were told when we got her that she had been bred in the past, but had had an issue getting pregnant. I've said for years how much I'd love to breed her and get a baby, but was worried that it would have to be an embryo transfer and that's expensive. My BO has always told me that if I want to breed her I can. When Yorke moved into the barn last fall, I really, really, REALLY wanted to breed them.  He's more refined and lighter built than Tia, which is what she needs. Both have awesome temperaments and are easy to work with and be around. And how awesome would it be to have mom and dad in the barn?

When I used to jumper bigger fences

I kinda hemmed and hawed this winter/spring until one of the other boarders at the barn gave me a kick in the ass.  I talked to the vet, and basically she said to have Tia ultrasounded to see what was going on in there, and if I really want to breed her, this is the year to do it; she'll be too old next year.  So in early May right before I left for San Diego I dropped Tia off to be bred to Yorke.  She was bred on the 8th, and they said everything looked good and she had a nice big follicle. Yorke has very good semen and has never had to rebreed a mare, so that was a good plus.  I took her back yesterday for her pregnancy check and there was the little black dot on the screen!!  Tia's officially 17 days in foal to Yorke for an April 2018 baby!! 

She did have a bit more edema in her uterus than normal, so she goes back in for another ultrasound in two weeks, but they didn't seem too worried by it.  I have a list of dates for her pneumabort shots as well as updating her vaccinations and deworming. But hopefully, if all goes well, we'll have a baby around April 13th of next year!!

Horses I'd Steal

I'm joining in on the $900 FB Pony's blog hop on horses I'd steal. There's two in the barn is take in a heartbeat.

She's also the best a trail riding.  I've had horses spook, spin and crash into us and mare don't care.

First is my BO's mare Tia. Holsteiner/TB cross, 17 hands and 18yrs old but one of the funniest horses in the barn, she's now semiretired. But she's still that awesome push button Hunter and I've been know to pull her out every couple months for funsies. What's not to love about a awesome rocking horse canter, auto lead changes, and a horse that will jump anything no matter how badly you screw up the distance?!?

The other horse is Yorke, an Oldenburg stallion. He's shown at 4th level dressage, and schooled higher. He was in the barn a few years ago and just moved back a couple weeks ago. He's the quietest stud ever. I've seen his owner ride him bareback with just a halter and lead rope with other horses and he never batted an eye. I think it would be a blast to ride him just to play around with all his buttons. 

Skeptical of paparazzi

My not so secret plan is to breed Tia and Yorke. He's a bit smaller and more refined than Tia, which I like. They both have amazing temperaments, are super quiet, and beautiful movers. And, more than likely, I'd get a dark baby with minimal white. The only problem? Tia's 18 and we were told that she's had fertility issues. If I had the $$$ I'd do embryo transfer, if the vet though it was possible. Alas, I have yet to find my money tree so my theoretical baby will have to stay a dream.